AC4490-1x1

Is there a way to minimize power consumption and optimize battery life in my AC4490/AC4790 application?

Because the AC4490/CL4490 and AC4790/CL4790 use completely different protocols with different architectures the options for reduction of power consumption are different. The AC4490/CL4490 uses a client/server architecture, while the AC4790/CL4790 uses a masterless architecture.

The AC4490/CL4490 support Sleep Walk Mode on client radios. This mode allows the OEM hosts to send a command to a Client radio which turns of the RF Circuitry. While in Sleep Walk Mode, the processor continues to actively calculate the frequency the Server should be located at, allowing the radio to remain synced with the Server while in Sleep Walk Mode. The Client can maintain this snychronization for up to two minutes (maximum). If the radio is in Sleep Walk Mode for longer than two minutes it will likely need to resync with the Server Beacon before it will be able to transmit data. For additional information on how to implement Sleep Walk Mode see the AC4490 User Guide: Sleep Walk Power Down and Sleep Walk Power-Down Wake Up in the Command Descriptions section.

Unfortunately, because of the masterless architecture of the AC4790/CL4790, these radios do not support any from of Sleep mode, as the radios need to be actively scanning for a beacon from a peer radio that needs to send data.

Additional considerations for maximizing battery life:

• Adding power control so you can programmatically disable VCC to the radio.
• Consider reducing the transmit power - test with lower transmit powers in sites typical of end user experience to see if this is an option.
• Where applicable, consider buffering data to create larger packets of RF data rather than sending several smaller packets. 
• Holding the processor in Reset using the Reset pin will NOT enable a Low Power Mode

In order to return the radio to its default EEPROM settings it is necessary to load a previously saved file containing the default settings to the Configuration Utility and write the changes to the radio. If you did not save the default settings to a file, prior to changing the settings, please contact Laird Support through the Support Portal to request a file with the default settings for the purpose of restoring the radio to its default configuration.

The "Show Default" settings view in the Laird Configuration and Test Utility should NEVER be written to the radio, as these are for reference ONLY. Writing these to the radio can result in corrupting the radio to a point where it can become unrecoverable. After viewing the "Show Default" settings, the radio settings should always be READ again, prior to writing any changes to the radio, to prevent this from occurring.

In the Laird RAMP line of products there is a feature called Full Duplex that leads one to believe they can talk upstream and downstream simultaneously. This is not the case, Full Duplex in the RAMP products gives a dedicated slot within the frame to the Server or Initiator and the second slot or next frame to the Client or Responder. 

The -01, -02, -03 at the end of the part number signifies the version of firmware loaded to the module.
These firmware versions are Regionally significant and apply certified for the regions listed:

*RMC/C-Tick Certified modules/ConnexLink must be purchased through Tekdis as they hold the certification.

Laird Connectivity is committed to the long-term supply of all its standard embedded wireless modules and packaged products. Laird Connectivity’s products are specifically designed to meet the needs of the industrial and medical markets, which typically require 7 – 10 years product lifecycle. Although Laird Connectivity can’t guarantee that a component used in our products will not be obsoleted and cannot be reasonably substituted, Laird Connectivity can assure customers we will continue to sell our product when we have customer demand and can obtain the necessary components to build our products.

View our full policy here.